Tool for crimping joint fasteners or the like

ABSTRACT

Crimping tool, for crimping joint fasteners for cabinet joints comprising a fixed pair having a supporting anvil thereon and a movable jaw on which crimping die surfaces are provided for crimping a structural member to a fastener. The anvil has a recess therein which is adapted to receive a projection on the fastener so that the crimping die surfaces on the movable jaw will engage the structural member at a precisely predetermined locations relative to the fastener member to which the structural member is being crimped.

limited Etates Patent 1 Eootes 51 May 15, I973 [75] Inventor:

I54] TUUL FOR CRIMPING JOINT FASTENERS OR THE LIKE Harold Edwin Cootes, Harrisburg, Pa.

[73] Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 25, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 127,896

[52] 11.8. Cl ..72/410, 29/243.56 51 rm. CI. ..B2ld 9/08 [58] Field of Search ..72/409, 410; 29/200 H, 203 H, 203 HC, 203 I-IM, 203 HT,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,000,422 9/1961 Yeiser ..72/409 3,205,568 9/ I 965 Stull ..72/4 1 0 3,314,135 4/1967 Smith ..29/203 2,952, I 74 9/1960 Broske I ..72/409 2,992,576 7/1961 Evans et al. 72/410 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant ExaminerM. J. Keenan Attorney-William J. Keating, Ronald D. Grefe,

Gerald K. Kita, Frederick W. Raring, and Jay L. Seitchik [57] ABSTRACT Crimping tool, for crimping joint fasteners for cabinet joints comprising a fixed pair having a supporting anvil thereon and a movable jaw on which crimping die surfaces are provided for crimping a structural member to a fastener. The anvil has a recess therein which is adapted to receive a projection on the fastener so that the crimping die surfaces on the movable jaw will engage the structural member at a precisely predetermined locations relative to the fastener member to which the structural member is being crimped.

7 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAYISIQR- 2,7

' SHEET 1 [IF 9 PATENTEDHAY 1 51915 3; 732.720

' SHEET 5 [1F 9 PATENTED MAY 1 5 I973 SHEET 7 BF 9 PATENTED HAY I SIQYS SHEET 8 BF 9 TOOL FOR CRIMPING JOINT FASTENERS OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The co-pending application of Robert H. Frantz, Ser. No. 110,908, filed on or about Jan. 29, 1971, discloses and claims an improved fastener for structural members such as the frame members of a cabinet. In accordance with the Frantz invention, the fastener is fitted between parallel ribs on the structural member and the sides of these ribs are indented or deformed into recesses in the fastener.

The instant invention is addressed to the problem of providing a suitable crimping tool for crimping structural members to fasteners to achieve fastenings as described in the above identified Frantz application. As will be explained more fully below, the achievement of a successful fastening in accordance with the Frantz invention requires precise location of the crimping tool on the structural member and with respect to the fastener and previously known crimping tools of general utility are not capable of meeting this requirement. The Successful practice of the Frantz invention also requires other features in the crimping tool used which are not available in prior tools and which are satisfied by tools in accordance with the instant invention.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved crimping tool for crimping structural members to fasteners. A further object is to provide a crimping tool having locating means for locating the tool with respect to the fastener to which the structural member is being crimped. It is a further object to provide a structural member crimping tool which can be used under all of the circumstances encountered in the achievement of fastenings in accordance with the invention disclosed in application Ser. No. 110,908.

In accordance with one aspect of the instant invention, a corner joint for a cabinet or the like is formed among three structural members, two of which maybe mitered, if desired, and which abutt each other to form an angle in a first plane. The third member extends normally of this plane and is in abutting relationship to the first named members. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the structural members comprise aluminum extrusions or other metallic members having strengthening ribs on their surfacesbetween which or against which the connecting member is located. The ribs are deformed into recesses in the connecting member to secure the structural member to the connecting member and thereby secure the structural members to each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a fastening is formed between two members by positioning part of one member between two opposed sur faces of the other member and indenting the thin wall of the first member into a recess in a second member. The form of the recess and the indentation is such that no relative movement of either member with respect to the other can take place. Fastenings of this type can be used in a variety of circumstances other than corner joints in accordance with the instant invention.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved fastening between two members. Afurther object is to provide a fastening which is formed by indentation of one member into the other. A still further object is to provide an improved connecting member for forming corner joints. A still further object is to provide a corner joint among three or more structural members which can be formed by a simple crimping operation.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof which is briefly described in the aforegoing abstract, which is described in detail in the specification which follows, and which is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is a perspective fragmentary view of a typical fastening between two members in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the two members exploded from each other prior to their being fastened to each other.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the two members of FIG. 1 prior to their being secured to each other.

FIG. 4 and 5 are views taken along the lines 44 and 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one form of corner joint in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the parts of the corner joint of FIG. 6 exploded from each other prior to their being secured to each other.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another form of corner joint in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the joint connector used to form the joint of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a typical cabinet frame having corner joints in accordance with the invention and showing the manner in which the two types of joints shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 are employed in the frame.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third type of corner joint in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the joint of FIG. 11 showing one of the structural members of the joint exploded from one arm of the connecting member.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the lines l313 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view, with the connector and one of the structural elements exploded, of another fonn of corner joint in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 14B is a perspective view of still another form of corner joint in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one form of crimping tool for crimping the connector member to the structural members of the comer joint.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side view showing the tool of FIG. 17 located on one of the structural members of a corner joint preparatory to forming the crimped connections between the structural member and the connector member.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but showing the positions of the parts at the completion of the crimping operation. 7 I

FIG. 18 is a perspective exploded view of portions of the head portion of the tool of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the tool of FIG. 17 in position on one of the structural members ofa corner joint.

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but illustrating the formation of an alternative form of corner joint.

FIG. 1 shows a typical fastening in accordance with the invention between two members 2,4. The member 2 may comprise, for example, an' aluminum extrusion having a base or web 6 and a pair of parallel ribs 8,10

extending therefrom. The member 4 comprises a rela- I tively hard block having top and side surfaces 12, 14 and having a width such that it fits relatively snugly between the opposed faces of the ribs 8, 10. A generally arcuate or semi-cylindrical recess 18 extends inwardly on the side 14 of the member 4 and partially downwardly so that an upwardly directed surface 20 is provided at the inner end of this recess. It is important to note that the recess extends only partially downwardly on the side 14 so that the side 14 is uninterrupted as shown at 22 adjacent to the base of the member 4. It should also be noted that the shoulder or side 14 is inclined downwardly, as is apparent from FIG. 9, for reasons which will be explained below.

When a fastening in accordance with the invention is to be formed, the member 4 is fitted between the ribs 8 and the portion 24' of the rib 8 (FIG. 3) which is in front of the recess 18 is deformed inwardly. During such deformation, the rib 8 is preferably severed or sheared as shown at 26 at a location corresponding to the location of the edge 21 on the side 14 of the member 4. This shearing is carried out by a suitable crimping tool, which is described below, which cooperates with the edge 21 to shear the sidewall during crimping.

After inward deformation of the portion 24 of the rib 8, the member 4 will be prevented from moving in any direction relative to the member 2 as will be apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5. The inwardly deformed section 24 of the rib prevents rightward or leftward movement of the member 4 with respect to the member 2 as is apparent from FIG. 4. The downwardly facing edge 28 of this inwardly deformed section of the rib bears against the surface 20 of the recess 18 and thereby prevents upward movement of the member 4 with respect to the member 2. The parts are thus firmly secured to each other and no relative movement can take place.

For best results, the member 4 should be snugly fitted between the ribs 8, of the member 2. The inclined surface of the shoulder 21 insures snug seating of the member 4 against the upper surface of the web 6 of member 2 in that as the material 24' of the rib 8 is deformed inwardly, it moves over and upwardly inclined surface and cams the member 4 downwardly so that its underside 30 is snugly against the surface of the web.

The fastening of FIGS. 1-5 can be made with a variety of materials. The member 2 should have at least one deformable rib or wall thereon so that the indentation can be formed as explained above. A variety of metals may comprise the member 2, for example, aluminum or steel. Aluminum is particularly suitable in that many aluminum alloys can be deformed or crimped in relatively thick sections and a substantial edge 28 will be formed to bear against the surface 20. For example, the member 2 may be of aluminum alloy 6063 (Mg0.- 45-09 percent, Si 0.2 to 0.6 percent, balance substantially all Al) in temper T4 or T5. The member 2 also might be formed from certain plastics, particularly of the types which can be deformed without fracture. The member 4 is of a relatively hard material and may therefore be a suitable metal or hard plastic. Good results can be obtained, for example, with a glass-filled (30-50 percent) nylon. A degree of hardness in this member is essential because of the fact that the edge 21 at the bottom of the recess 18 functions as a shearing edge when the sidewall portion or rib portion 24 is deformed inwardly as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is also desirable that the member 4 be ofa material which will flow under relatively high pressures in order to ensure a snug fit of this member between the ribs 8, 10 after formation of the indentation 18. As shown in FIG. 4, an extremely close or snug fit is obtained at 23 between the members 2, 4 after deformation ofthe rib 8 and this close fit is achieved by slight deformation of the member 4.

The member 4 and the member 2 may comprise extensions of a wide variety of other parts which are to be joined to each other. In the description which follows, a variety of corner joints composed of three structural members and a connector member are described in which the structural members are secured to the connector member by fastenings of the types shown in FIGS. 1-5. Other uses for the fastening of FIGS. 1-5, however, will be apparent to those skilled in the fastening art.

FIG. 6 shows a cornerjoint 32 in accordance with the invention, formed by three structural members generally identified by reference numeral 34 and specifically identified as 34-1, 34-2, 34-3, and a connector member 44. These structural members are identical to each other, each having a web or base 36, and first and second parallel ribs 38 and 40 extending from the base or web. Structural members of this type are frequently formed as aluminum extrusions and can be readily deformed to form crimped connections in accordance with the invention.

The joint of FIG. 6 is formed by mitering the structural members 34-2 and 34-3 so that they meet along the line with respect to their longitudinal axes with their ribs 38, 40 in alignment. The structural member 34-1 is located against the corner formed by the members 34-2 and 34-3 and the ribs 38, 40 of the member 34-1 are in alignment with the corresponding ribs of the structural member 34-3.

A preferred form of connector member 44 for the joint 32 is formed of hard material, as noted above, such as metal or a glass-filled nylon and has first, second and third arms 46, 48 and respectively. The arms 46 and 48 extend normally from each other from a common juncture and define a first reference plane. The arm 50 extends normally from the arm 46 at a location spaced from the juncture of arms 46 and 48 so that the arm 50 and the arm 46 define a second plane which extends normally of the first plane. It will be apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7 that the precise distance from the arm 50 to the corner of the connector, formed by the juncture of arms 46 and 48, is equal to the height of the ribs 38, 40 plus the thickness of one of these ribs.

The upper and lower sides 52, 54 of the first arm 46 and the upper and lower sides 56, 58 of the second arm 48 extend parallel to the first plane while the sides 60, 62 of the third arm 50 extend normally of the second plane referred to above. These planes and the sides of the arms are specifically identified to locate the recesses 18 described below.

Arcuate or semi-cylindrical recesses 18 extend inwardly on the side 52 of the first arm 46, on the side 56 of the second arm 48, and on the side of the third arm 50. These recesses are advantageously as described above and as shown in greater detail in FIG. 2.

When the joint 32 is formed, the structural members 34-2 and 34-3 are mitered and located against each other. Also, it is necessary to remove a short section of the rib 38 of the structural member 34-2 so that a gap 66 remains between the upper end of the rib 38 of the structural member 34-2 and the righthand end of the rib 38 of the structural member 34-3. This gapshould have a width sufficient to accomodate the thickness of the connector members 44 for reasons which will be apparent from the drawing.

After the members 34-2 and 34-3 are positioned against each other, the connector member is located on these two structural members with the first arm 46 between the ribs 38, 40 of the structural member 34-3 and with the third arm 50 between the ribs 38-40 with structural member 34-2. The ribs 38 of both structural members 34-2 and 34-3 are then crimped at 68 into the recesses 18 to form the crimped connections which secure these two structural members to each other. Thereafter, the structural member 34-1 is positioned against the structural members 34-2 and 34-3 the second arm 48 of the connector member 44 is positioned between the ribs 38, 40 of structural member 34-1 and crimped connections 68 are formed between the rib 38 of this second arm of the connector 44 and the structural member 34-1.

FIG. 8 shows a corner joint formed among structural members 34-1, 34-5, and 34-4, this joint being a mirror image of the structural corner joint shown in FIG. 6. The structural members 34-4 and 34-5 are identical to the previously described structural members 34 of FIG. 6 and this joint is made with a connector member 44, FIG. 9, which is a mirror image of connector 44 shown in FIG. 7. In a typical cabinet or box frame then, the corner joint of FIG. 8 would comprise the upper right rear corner while the corner joint of FIG. 6 would comprise the upper left corner of the frame. These two forms of corner joint are used in other locations in the frame as shown in FIG. 10 and as described immediately below.

FIG. 10 shows a cabinet or box frame having structural frame members, 34-l, 34-2, 34-3, 34-1-2, the lefthand side or end of the frame being formed by structural members 34-2, 34-3, 34-11, and 34-12 while the righthand side end of the frame is formed by a structural members 34-5, 34-4, 34-6, and 34-7. These two ends are connected to each other by transverse frame members 34-1, 34-9, 34-8, and 34-10. In each of the eight corners of the frame, the converging structural members are secured to each other by one of the two types of corner joints 32, 70 shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 respectively. It will be apparent from an inspection of FIG. 10 that the upper left rear, upper left front, lower right rear, and lower right front joints are of the type shown at 32 in FIG. 6. The upper right rear, upper right front, lower left rear and lower left front joints are on the other hand, of the type shown at 70 in FIG. 8. It is thus apparent that all of the required joints of the frame can be obtained with the two connector members 44, 44 described above. It should be noted that the transverse structural members 34-1, 34-8, 34-9, and 34-10 can be oriented in either the vertical or horizontal plane of FIG. 10 if the proper corner joints 32, 70 are used in the appropriate corner.

FIGS. 11-13 show an alternative embodiment of the invention comprising a corner joint formed of three structural members 34A-3, 34A-2, and 78. The structural members 34A-3 and 34A-2 are similar to the structural members 34 described above and meet at a mitered joint as previously described. The connecting member 34A has first and third arms which are located between the ribs 38 and 40 of these two structural members and fastenings 68 as previously described are formed to secure these arms to the members.

The structural member 78 is, in this embodiment, a simple extrusion having only a single rib 83 extending therefrom. This member, in the finished joint, extends normally from the members 34A-3 and 34A-2.

The connection between the second arm 48A of the connector 44A and the structural member 78 is achieved by providing cylindrical bosses 92 on the side of arm 48A which is opposed to the structural member 78 and forming holes 96 in the structural member at locations such that the bosses 92 will enter the holes preventing relative upward movement of the structural member with respect to the arm. The inwardly deformed portions 68 of the rib 83 prevent any movement in the horizontal plane as viewed in the drawing.

Referring now to FIG. 14A, the combination of bosses and recesses on the connector member can be employed to form a joint among three structural members 98, 100, 102 each of which has only one rib I04 extending from one of its sides. The connector 106 has bosses 108 extending from the sides which are opposite to the sides into which the recesses extend and holes are drilled in the structural members 98, I00, 102 as indicated. The combination of crimped connections between the single rib 104 of the structural members and the interengagement of the bosses and the holes will secure the structural members firmly with respect to each other so that they cannot move.

FIG. 148 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the structural members 348-2 and 348-3, which lie in one plane, are arranged with the end of 348-3 abutting the side of 343-2. The structural member 34B-I is positioned against structural member 348-2 with the ribs 38, 40 of this structural member in alignment with the ribs of the structural member 348-3. The ribs 38, 40 of structural member 348-2 are cut away as indicated adjacent to the upper end of this member so that the connector member 348 can be positioned withits arms disposed between the ribs of the three structural members. Again, the arms of the connector member are fastened to the structural members by indentations 68 as described above. The corner joint shown in FIG. 143 can be used where it is desired to avoid the use of a mitered joint.

It is advantageous to crimp the ribs of the structural members into the recesses of the connector members by means of a suitable hand tool which may be of the general type shown in FIG. 15-20. This tool 110 comprises a pair of generally channel-shaped handles 112, 114 which are interfitted at their upper ends and pivoted to each other by a pin 122. A conventional full stroke compelling mechanicism 116 may be provided on the handles as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,993 so that the operator is compelled to completely crimp the ribs into the recesses after he sub-initiated a crimping operation.

The pivot pin 122 extends through a ram 124 contained in a core in a tool head frame block 126. Links 1130 on each side of the ram are pivoted at their lefthand ends to the head block 126 and have their righthand ends pivoted to the handles 114, 112. It will thus be apparent that when the handles are closed, the ram is driven leftwardly in FIG. 20 to actuate the rib crimping tooling as described below.

The ribs of the structural members are indented by a pair of generally semi-cylindrical projections on a dieblock 142 this die block constituting a first jaw of the tool. Arms 144 extend upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 18, from each side of this die block and straddle the intermediate portion of the frame block 128. At their upper ends, these arms are pivotedly mounted on a pin 150 which is extends through a mounting block 146 secured to the upper surface of the frame block 128 by suitable fasteners 148. The die block 142 is normally located in a recess 152 on the underside of the frame block and in opposed relationship to a depending lip 154 on the frame block which constitutes the second jaw of the tool. This lip has a flat surface which opposes the dies and which is adapted to support the second rib 40 on the structural member during a crimping operation. The ram 124 is normally biased rightwardly as viewed in FIG. 18 by means of a spring 156 contained in a threaded opening 160 in the head. This spring is retained in the opening by a suitable set screw 158 and bears against the bevelled face of the ram 124. When the handles are closed, the ram is moved leftwardly as viewed in FIGS. 18 and 19 against the biasing force of this spring. The stroke of the ram 124 is preferably limited by means of a suitable pin 136 mounted in a drilled transversely extending hole in the frame block and extending through a recess 138 on one side of the ram.

In order to permit a single tool 110 to be used for making crimped joints of the type shown in FIG. 14 and the type shown in FIG. 6, it is desirable to mount a shim or spacer 162 on the tool which can be placed against the lip 154 or removed from the lip depending upon the type of crimped connection being made. This spacer 162 is integral with an arm 164 pivoted at its upper end on a pin 168 in a slot 166 in the tool head.

When a crimped connection of the type shown in FIG. 14 is being formed, the shim or spacer is swung about its pivotal axis 168 so that it is located against the surface of the lip 154. The tool is then positioned on the structural member 34A (FIG. 16) with the die block 142 positioned between the ribs on the structural member as shown and with the spacer disposed against the leftwardly facing (as viewed in FIG. 16) side of the arm of the connector member. The two handles are then closed so that the indentors 140 will move from the position of FIG. 16 to the position of FIG. 17. The lower edges of these indentors, cooperate with the edges identified at 21 in FIG. 2 of the connector arm to shear the second rib 38 and deform the wall portions of the rib inwardly as illustrated. As noted above, the tool is provided with a full stroke compelling mechanicsm so that the rib will be completely crimped into the recesses and a secure and sound fastening will be obtained.

When a crimped connection of the type shown in FIG. 6 is being formed, the shim 162 is swung away from the lip 154, and the steps described above are followed to crimp the rib into the connector arm.

It is desirable to provide means to accurately located the tool on the structural member and with relation to the arm of the connector member. To this end, I prefer to provide a conical locating boss 94 on each arm of the connecting or connector member. This locating boss is adapted to enter a hole 170 extending upwardly into the surface 153 on the underside of the head and which is so located such that the indentors 140 will be prerightwardly facing surface (as viewed in FIG. 20) of lip 154 which supports the rib 40 and the surface 153 in which the locating hole 170 is provided.

A variety of types of tools might be employed to form fastenings in accordance with the invention. The disclosed type of crimping tool has one particular advantage in that the crimping projections move along an arcuate path when the rib of structural member is deformed into the recess of the connector. This arcuate movement is advantageous in that the shoulder 20 of the connector is inclined upwardly from the edge 21 as shown in FIG. 2. The path of the lower end of the crimper approximately follows the inclination of the shoulder so that the indented portion of the rib is not jammed into the recess but bears against the shoulder ofthe recess and the connector is cammed downwardly as previously described.

Numerous alternative embodiments, modifications, and alternative uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As pointed out above, the fastenings in accordance with the instant invention can be used under a wide variety of circumstances other than those specifically disclosed herein. It should also be pointed out that fastenings in accordance with the invention can be formed by providing recesses which extend inwardly on both sides of the connector member to which connection is made rather than on only one side. It is preferable as disclosed herein to shear the rib of the structural member (or the corresponding part of the members being connected, whatever they are) although results can sometimes be obtained without full or with only partial shearing.

Some uses for corner joints in accordance with the invention are building frames, furniture in addition to cabinets, interior building partitions, and frames of the general type used to support printed circuit boards and commonly referred to as card guide racks. Although I choose to show right angle corner joints in the appended drawing, it will be apparent that connectors and corner joints in which the structural members extend from each other at angles other than right angles are within the scope of the invention.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

I claim:

1. A tool for securing one member to another member, said one member having first and second ribs, said ribs being spaced apart and parallel to each other, said other member comprising a firm solid member located between said ribs, said other member having at least one recess therein on one side thereof, said one side being against said first rib, said other member having first locating means thereon on another side thereof which is adjacent to said one side, said tool comprising:

first and second jaw members,

actuating means for moving said first jaw member towards and away from said second jaw member along a predetermined path, said first jaw member having indenting means thereon for indenting said first rib into said recess,

said second jaw member having two intersecting work engaging surfaces, one of said surfaces extending transversely of said path and being adapted to support said second rib, the other one of said surfaces extending beside said path and having second locating means thereon, said second locating means being cooperable with said first locating means to locate said other member relative to said tool with said recess in alignment with said indenting means whereby, upon positioning said members in said tool and upon movement of said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said indenting means will indent said one rib into said recess to secure said members to each other.

2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first loeating means comprises a projection on said other side of said other member, said second locating means comprising a recess in said other surface of said second jaw member, said projection being adapted to enter said recess.

3. A tool as set forth in claim 1 said one member comprising a structural member, said other member comprising a fastener for forming a connection to said structural member.

4. A tool as set forth in claim 1, said recess in said other member being semi-cylindrical, said indenting means on said first jaw member comprising a semicylindrical indentor.

5. A tool as set forth in claim 4, said other member having a second recess therein and said indenting means comprising a second semi-cylindrical indentor.

6. A tool as set forth in claim 1, said tool having a tool head, said second jaw member being on said tool head, said first jaw member being pivotally mounted on said tool head on a pivotal axis which extends transversely of and is spaced from, said predetermined path.

7. A tool as set forth in claim 6 having a pair of spaced apart parallel arms, said arms being on opposite sides of said tool head, said first jaw being secured to said arms at one end thereof and said pivotal axis extending through said arms at the other end thereof. 

1. A tool for securing one member to another member, said one member having first and second ribs, said ribs being spaced apart and parallel to each other, said other member comprising a firm solid member located between said ribs, said other member having at least one recess therein on one side thereof, said one side being against said first rib, said other member having first locating means thereon on another side thereof which is adjacent to said one side, said tool comprising: first and second jaw members, actuating means for moving said first jaw member towards and away from said second jaw member along a predetermined path, said first jaw member having indenting means thereon for indenting said first rib into said recess, said second jaw member having two intersecting work engaging surfaces, one of said surfaces extending transversely of said path and being adapted to support said second rib, the other one of said surfaces extending beside said path and having second locating means thereon, said second locating means being cooperable with said first locating means to locate said other member relative to said tool with said recess in alignment with said indenting means whereby, upon positioning said members in said tool and upon movement of said first jaw member towards said second jaw member, said indenting means will indent said one rib into said recess to secure said members to each other.
 2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first locating means comprises a projection on said other side of said other member, said second locating means comprising a recess in said other surface of said second jaw member, said projection being adapted to enter said recess.
 3. A tool as set forth in claim 1 said one member comprising a structural member, said other member comprising a fastener for forming a connection to said structural member.
 4. A tool as set forth in claim 1, said recess in said other member being semi-cylindrical, said indenting means on said first jaw member comprising a semi-cylindrical indentor.
 5. A tool as set forth in claim 4, said other member having a second recess therein and said indenting means comprising a second semi-cylindrical indentor.
 6. A tool as set forth in claim 1, said tool having a tool head, said second jaw member being on said tool head, said first jaw member being pivotally mounted on said tool head on a pivotal axis which extends transversely of and is spaced from, said predetermined path.
 7. A tool as set forth in claim 6 having a pair of spaced apart parallel arms, said arms being on opposite sides of said tool head, said first jaw being secured to said arms at one end thereof and said pivotal axis extending through said arms at the other end thereof. 